# Why do patients lie to doctors? **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Tags:** patientcare, dentist, explore, futuredoctors, medical\ **Created:** [July 5, 2025, 9:24am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370 "2025-07-05T09:24:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drkashish](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/drkashish/32/655_2.png) [@drkashish](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/drkashish)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 9:24am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/1 "2025-07-05T09:24:03Z")
Why are people lying to health professionals? - Fear of judgment - Embarrassment - Denial or self-protection - Mistrust or lack of rapport - To please the doctor Have you ever experienced this from a patient? How do we create an environment grounded in trust, so patients do not feel the need to hide things from us and vice versa? The most common lies that I’ve come across are - “ yes I brush twice daily” while I’m staring at a mouth full of calculus or they’ll deny that they don’t chew tobacco when the stains are very evident! ---
**Author:** ![CharuSingh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CharuSingh](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/CharuSingh)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 10:04am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/2 "2025-07-05T10:04:54Z")
As far as I have seen my patients, I feel sometimes it’s fear, shame, or not wanting to be judged. Some worry about being scolded, others just want to seem “normal.” As doctors, the more we listen without reacting, the safer they’ll feel to tell us the truth. ---
**Author:** ![LakshmiBarathi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/lakshmibarathi/32/604_2.png) [@LakshmiBarathi](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/LakshmiBarathi)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 11:13am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/3 "2025-07-05T11:13:15Z")
That’s so true. What’s even more concerning is when patients hide their medical history, especially conditions like diabetes or hypertension, just to get a tooth removed quickly. They don’t realize that these aren’t minor details; they can lead to serious postoperative complications. A small omission can put their life at risk. Honesty isn’t just helpful, it’s crucial for safe dental care. ---
**Author:** ![Harshita\_Suthar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/harshita_suthar/32/583_2.png) [@Harshita\_Suthar](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Harshita_Suthar)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/4 "2025-07-05T13:39:10Z")
Fear of getting judged make them to do so. And it’s quite common in medical environment. For that Healthcare professionals must be skilled enough to deal with such situations and make them comfortable. And one should have ability to go in depth to know the truth. ---
**Author:** ![ujalapanday2808](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/ujalapanday2808/32/746_2.png) [@ujalapanday2808](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/ujalapanday2808)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/5 "2025-07-05T14:05:39Z")
Its true we do hide something when the doctor is new( someone whom we are not familiar or giving the look of judgmental ---
**Author:** ![Shagufta](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/shagufta/32/632_2.png) [@Shagufta](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Shagufta)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/6 "2025-07-05T16:32:58Z")
Yes.. patients sometimes feel embarrassed 😳 or for the lack of trust… ---
**Author:** ![Nandhini\_23](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/nandhini_23/32/708_2.png) [@Nandhini\_23](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Nandhini_23)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/7 "2025-07-05T16:37:49Z")
Fear of judgment and embarrassment ---
**Author:** ![Sakshi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/sakshi/32/599_2.png) [@Sakshi](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Sakshi)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/8 "2025-07-05T17:35:49Z")
Fear of judgment is a big factor ---
**Author:** ![kirtikaverma](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/kirtikaverma/32/395_2.png) [@kirtikaverma](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/kirtikaverma)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/9 "2025-07-05T17:43:37Z")
Been there when the mouth says one thing and the stains another! ---
**Author:** ![Wakeeta\_11](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/wakeeta_11/32/668_2.png) [@Wakeeta\_11](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Wakeeta_11)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2025, 10:13am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/10 "2025-07-06T10:13:17Z")
Yes, they may feel like they will be judged, or out of shyness. But you should never lie to your doctor it is a very bad habit. ---
**Author:** ![shivani1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/shivani1/32/684_2.png) [@shivani1](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/shivani1)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/11 "2025-07-06T17:47:17Z")
Patient always walks into the clinic with a perspective and with a strong persona… Also with the fear of judgement and sometimes embarrassment ---
**Author:** ![poonam1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/poonam1/32/519_2.png) [@poonam1](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/poonam1)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2025, 6:15am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/12 "2025-07-07T06:15:31Z")
Yes, Agreed. I have encountered this a lot of times.If the patients give us more clarity about their history including habits, previous treatment, we can provide better treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Asthha12](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/asthha12/32/926_2.png) [@Asthha12](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Asthha12)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2025, 7:23am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/why-do-patients-lie-to-doctors/4370/13 "2025-07-12T07:23:03Z")
As a healthcare professional, we need to make them comfortable around us and make them aware of further situations.